In Luv by MTA Lab

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MTA Lab is a new project from a cooperation of friends around Thomas Meier, aka TM Solver. The trio plays the basic structures live, then the recording is being edited and mastered in the studio of TM Solver.
M for Marcel Margis
T for Thomas Meier (TM Solver)
A for Andre Danker
The three musicians were inspired to create an own project by different concerts of other electronic bands, they visited. The Album "In Luv" is the second album by this trio. An emphasis is to be found in hardwaresampling.

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In a parallel to his solo career, Thomas Meierhighlights other musical visions within the trio MTA LAB which includes the musicians Marcel Margis (Synth, Sequencer and Drumcomputer) and Andre Danker (Synth and guitars) since 2016. Walking a little on ashes of Synthetica, especially for these dances of Zombies snorting ether, “In Luv” still exploits these evolutionary structures of rhythms where the sequences and the percussions confront or complete each other in a pond of percussive effects even more striking. Available in a download format on the Bandcamp site of SynGate, “In Luv” shows proudly its 80 minutes in a very good mosaic of rhythms and of ambiences where every title is linked within their differences. And there are! I discovered a very beautiful album where I had the feeling, and more than once, to hear some very good Pyramid Peak.

"In Luv" starts with sinister waves where voices and vocal effects, as well as shadowy lines forge a nebulous introduction. Fragments of waves get loose to form sound strands a bit more melodious which float in this electronic decoration haloed of murmurs and of layers of voices. A sequence escapes from the attention of the sequencer to skip like a dolphin which pierces the horizon of waters while begin to stream some percussive ornaments as much pleasant to the ears as these songs of astral flutes begin to take forms more and more harmonious. A line of bass snores in this setting, spreading reverberating layers which give more depth to the slow evolution of "In Luv". Even with its very good effects of percussions, the structure of rhythm remains as so little conventional as the multiple capacities of the instruments which uses the German trio. If a synth charms with sharpened songs of flutes, another casts lines of bass reverberations which sculpt solos of which the origins seem to arise from the vintage years. The percussions, the oscillating sequences and the very good line of bass forge the base of a progressive rhythm which is slightly more livened up than ambient. The finale is melting in the immense jingles of "Timeless", where the synth layers are necessarily from the Backdance era. The rhythm is more livened up with an eternal ascent of the sequencer movement, sculpting even the movement of a train on the way towards mountains. It's a good title which sounds very Pyramid Peak (the splendid "Industrial Pulse" sounds even more) with good cosmic effects, a captivating rhythm and a sequencer which strews the road of jumping keys a bit uncontrollable. A very good piece of music which unloads its last beatings, a bit more muted, in the introductory tumult of "Synergy", a title heat up by multiple lines of sequences which bind themselves in automated percussions. This rhythm sparkles between our ears with a good liveliness, leaving little place to the synths which stand back, casting here and there reverberations of singing waves and very vintage electronic effects. Except towards the finale where a synth blows a little more dramatic, kind of apocalyptic, approach. So far, I like what I hear. It's a very good fusion between the retro and the new Berlin School styles.

"Analogus" highlights this spasmodic movement of the sequencer which makes its keys oscillate in beautiful aerial effects and chirping solos. It's no big deal, but it passes very well because of the nuances in the structure of rhythm rather motorik. I also like the wealth of the anesthetic layers. Please adjust your earphones because "SynthFctry" proposes several little noisy and percussive effects. The rhythm is knotted in jerky spasms which parade like cutting knocks under the chants of a rather passive synth. Very good effects of organic percussions manhandle this convoluted structure in the 2nd part, so giving the taste to listen again to " SynthFctry " immediately. Except that the anarchy of the movement of crystal the balls is swallowed by a more fluid movement of the sequencer, of the bass percussions and of another movement which sounds like these old rock dances of the 70's and of the 80's. Between "SynthFctry" and "Timeless", "Industrial Pulse" screws us to our earphones with a so great electronic rock where the jingles of the percussions and the twinkling movement of the sequencer get a hold onto the elastic effect of the bass line. The solos are immense and intense. They give a little break to a rhythm which needs to breath before taking this shape of snakes fleeing a forest fire such as imagined by Chris Franke at the end of the 70's. Even the synth sometimes breathes of these perfumes of Tangerine Dream with very nice harmonious phases. It's a great track which invites us in a dance of fingers and to roll of the neck with great solos and fragments of harmonies in a setting richly vaporized of multiple effects in all sorts. And if we thought that we have hit the jackpot, "Sequenz Isolation" screws us even more profoundly in the universe of “In Luv” with another rich phase built on the ambiguities between the sequencer and the bludgeoning of the percussions, I hear Jarre here, while the synths, rich in harmonious solos, are apparently intimidated by the robustness and the creativity of Marcel Margis. As much good my friends as the best of Pyramid Peak!